Nigerian Football Comedy turning to Football again.

    "Kenneth Ilodigwe and Achebe! The only other partnership you can imagine in central defence that will compare to that pairing is if Rio Ferdinand and Paolo Maldini ever played together". Those were the words of my father. Growing up, before my father started taking me to matches, he always came back and told me stories of the games. Those stories were never complete without Ilodigwe, Achebe, Amasiemeka, Okosieme and Okala from Rangers International of Enugu and Patrick Ekeji of Vasco Da Gama. In his excitement, one of his favorite lines was delivered in conc Udi language..." Dominic Nwobodo na e nye goal k nd'ma! (Dominic Nwobodo scores like a ghost). He was and indeed remains a die hard fan of Rangers. He would drive to Enugu every weekend to see a Rangers game. My father is like the average fan of Liverpool; based on past successes, he doesn't understand why Rangers is struggling today. He doesn't also understand the empty stands at the stadia during Nigerian football league matches.
   For many years, the Nigerian football league would best be described as a comedy show. I maintain that the footballers themselves are not to be blamed. At all. One might mention rascality among the players. Don't we see such rascality  amongst players in the EPL, La Liga and Serie A? That's why there are rules guiding the game. I played a game in the league where on entrance to the field, the referee told me that no matter what we do, we will loose the game. We scored in the first five minutes and he upheld the goal believing himself to wreck us. When it dawned on him that he, the referee was loosing the game to us, he awarded a penalty kick to our opponents. The penalty taker calmly blew the ball over the bar. He called for a retake, our goalkeeper caught it. He called for another retake, over the bar!!! Three successive penalty kicks! Long story cut short, we played out a draw. Point being that the bane of the Nigerian football league for more than two decades have been officiating.
    Before two years ago, the home team had the responsibility to cater for the officials assigned to a game. Feeding, accommodation, transportation and other logistics. Now, tell me how a referee that knows a host team is in charge of his pay will go on to the field and be fair to both teams. The referee is human. Probably with a family to cater for and a life to live. In a league game between Sharks and NPA, 2003, the center referee was beaten black and blue at the end of the game by the home fans. 2012/2013 season game between Ocean Boys and Enyimba at the Samson Siasia stadium Yenagoa. The game ended abruptly in the first half when Enyimba scored the second goal. Walahi Enyimba use tip tap finish Ocean Boys. The players of Ocean  Boys were literally breathing from every known and available hole on their bodies. Enyimba was balling and I was enjoying the game. All of a sudden, fans invaded the pitch in pursuit of Enyimba boys who ran for dear lives. Game over. I noticed something later though; the referee was not spared by the crowd. The home fans expected the referee to be on their side but the referee was obviously a fan of good football.
   The importance of beautiful officiating can never be over emphasised. The number of games that can be fixed without a referee is negligible. For a game to be fixed without qualms the referee has to be involved. When the Nduka Irabor led League Management Company was formed in 2012, we didn't expect much from them. Today, the LMC have turned around the fortunes of the Nigerian Football League around for good. Presently, the officials that officiated week 9 games between Gabros/ Sharks and Wikki/ Lobi are under investigation based on a submission by LMC to the NFF. Such measures can only enhance discipline among officials and players. The LMC is doing a very beautiful work with the league organisation. The league is returning to football again after many years of being pure comedy.
   Also, attendance to games have improved. Aba Township Stadium, home to Enyimba, deserve a special mention for the near full capacity in games, week in week out. The Glo Nigeria Premier Football League is on the rise. With the passion the current NFF President Amaju Pinnick has for the game, we can only expect better. As for my darling Rangers in whom my septuagenarian father is well disappointed in, a change in fortune is needed. ASAP. The team should quit being the Arsenal of Nigerian League. Win league una no go win. Go relegation una no go go! Unu a ga a buzi ogbenye buru amosu? 

Photo Credit; @LMCNPFL
Follow Ikenna Enenta on Twitter; @ikenna005